Ventura River

The Ventura River, located in western Ventura County in southern California, United States, flows through an eponymous narrow valley with steeply sloped sides. The smallest of the three major rivers in Ventura County, the Ventura River main stem begins at the confluence of Matilija Creek and North Fork Matilija Creek, 16.2mi from the Pacific Ocean. Matilija Creek is Ventura River's most significant headwater and tributary, and adds to the length of the river's main drainage. San Antonio Creek, the river's second most significant tributary, joins the river from the east halfway to the ocean; Coyote Creek enters the river from the west and Cañada Larga Creek from the east a few of miles downstream. In its final stretch, the Ventura River flows through the Ventura River estuary, which extends from about the 101 Freeway bridge to the Pacific Ocean.WatershedThe Ventura River watershed encompasses consisting of steep mountains and foothills, with altitudes ranging from to sea level. Valley floors are home to communities and farms. Conditions in much of the watershed remain natural and undeveloped, with 57% of its land area in protected status. Most of the watershed’s primary streams and drainages are unchannelized, though two dams—Casitas and Matilija—and three levees—Ventura River, Casitas Springs, and Live Oak—have modified natural hydrologic patterns.The northern half of the watershed lies within Los Padres National Forest. The watershed’s southern half includes two cities and a number of unincorporated communities. The City of Ojai lies entirely within the watershed, 13 miles at an elevation of. Thirteen percent of the City of Ventura lies within the watershed, adjacent to the coast and the lower stretch of the Ventura River. Developed land (excluding grazing) comprises only about 13% of the total land area in the watershed. Agriculture is the dominant land use. Citrus and avocados are the primary irrigated crops grown, and a significant area of land is used for cattle grazing.